Dedicated volunteers rally to support vulnerable people in Doncaster community

The group, operating in Thorne and Moorends, coordinated by DMBC ward councillors, have got together to bring supplies to many households in the area and further afield.

Coun Susan Durant paid tribute to firms such as Tesco, Greggs and Costa for providing stock to hand out.

She said the operation was a ‘small supply’ of volunteers to minimise contact with people who could be at risk during the coronavirus outbreak.

The councillor, who manages the Moorends Miners Welfare & Community Development Centre, has had to close down for 12 weeks and started receiving messages from people to see if they would be able to get supplies while the country is on lockdown.

The group had their first drop off of supplies on Sunday, March 22 and have been out ever since.

“We’ve been making parcels up for people with what we’ve been given. Stuff like sandwiches and other things to go out to people who are the most vulnerable,” she said.

“We’re working with a small supply of volunteers minimising contact not putting people at risk.

“We’re taking precautions and we don’t want to put people at risk. We’ve got aprons, gloves, hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes and things like that. We’re knocking on doors, leaving the packages on the doorstep and walking away and washing our hands regularly.

“Some of the messages we’ve received thanking us have been really lovely. We’ve delivered to one person who was on kidney dialysis, another person who was recovering after breaking their hip and those who don’t have any relatives who live locally.

“It’s trying to reach those older, isolated people on their own who have no family members and we’re trying to do our bit to help.

“I had a lady in London who was concerned about an elderly parent and got in touch to see if we could send some food and supplies.”

Lots of big companies have answered the call. Tesco, Nuffield Health, Heron Foods and Greggs and Costa at the M18 services are just some who have supplied the group. Cepac Ltd in nearby Rawcliffe also donated boxes for the food to be handed out.

“The big companies have been so generous,” Coun Durant said.

“Tesco gave us a big supply and gave us flowers for people. We even had boxes of donuts so we took them to a care home to cheer the residents up.

“But we managed to get a weekly supply of potatoes, bananas, apples and other veg, things like that through a local business and the mayor’s fund to get some proper produce out.”